Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia
End of Watch: Friday, July 21, 1967
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 9, 1967
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Ranger Bill Hobbs succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on his farm six miles south of Blakely 12 days earlier as he and an Early County deputy investigated a disturbance involving a mentally unstable man who was living with family members on the property.
The man had been released from Central State Hospital a few weeks earlier and was causing a disturbance. He shot at Ranger Hobbs and the deputy when they arrived at the scene. Ranger Hobbs suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He then took a gun and ammunition from the deputy's patrol car and barricaded himself in the farmhouse.
Responding officers shot and killed the man when he opened fire on them.
Ranger Hobbs was survived by his wife and son.